Non-specific psychological distress following the Christchurch earthquake: 10 years later - How are they doing now?

Factors that make it more likely for people to develop mental health disorders may include prior exposure to disasters, significant loss from the disaster, the severity and intensity of the initial trauma, pre-existing mental ill health and social circumstances, gender, and overall resilience (Foa et al., 2006; Locke et al., 2012; Norris et al., 2002). In the 35-year longitudinal Christchurch Health and Development Study, individuals who experienced higher levels of exposure to the earthquakes also reported higher levels of stress and distress (Fergusson et al., 2015). (2014) explored the physical and mental health impact of the earthquakes on a random sample of 50-year-olds participating in the Canterbury Health, Ageing and Life Course study (CHALICE; a longitudinal study of ageing) and living in the Christchurch area. A local Christchurch newspaper reported that there had been an overall increase in demand for mental health services since the 2011 earthquake with a corresponding higher than normal number of prescriptions for depression, anxiety, and insomnia issued (Hogg et al., 2014).